Somthing to keep strays away from young tree

I have a young tree in my yard protected by a tomato stake, but the tree just about outgrew that, so it may need to be left unprotected. Trouble is my last tree was ripped and broken by the strays, and I fear the same would happen to this one once the stake is removed, the tree is only a foot tall.

I just want them to stay away from the tree, the rest of the yard is all theres.
is there a natural repellent that works year round?

Make a chicken wire (or other fencing) cage - like some use for tomatos. It should be large enough in diameter that they can't reach a paw in, if you use other size wire. And make it tall. Use tent stakes or those green wire fence poles to hold it in place.

And build them a stratching post while you are at it.

I got this tip from another rescuer. Pour ground black pepper around the tree. I got a large size container from a discount store. Used it in an area after I rescued some ferals. Their home (a ditch) was going under construction and I had to make sure no other cats would come in to stay. Seemed to work. There are several colonies in that area and none ventured to the peppered area.

As a permanent solution i'm going to try and build my own fencing, once the tree reaches about 8 or 9 feet than it wont need protection.

For a temporary solution I would try the pepper.

Thanks for the advice!

I had to do this once to save a baby tree from a chewing puppy. I put gauze around the wounds and put a skinny chickenwire type fence around its base. It worked and the tree grew to be healthy and full of pears!